The Netherlands moved to the brink of booking their place at next year’s FIFA World Cup after earning a 1-1 draw away to second-placed Poland, leaving the hosts facing an enormous challenge to qualify directly from Group G.

Poland entered the clash weakened defensively, missing Jan Bednarek through injury, Przemysław Wiśniewski due to suspension, and goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski with injury. That forced Jan Urban to turn to Kamil Grabara in goal, while Jan Ziółkowski and Tomasz Kędziora also stepped into the back line.

The Dutch, knowing a win in Warsaw would mathematically secure their spot at the tournament, were themselves without injured right-back Denzel Dumfries. Lutsharel Geertruida earned his first Oranje start since March as a result.

The hosts, three points behind the Dutch before kickoff, nearly got off to a dream start when Nicola Zalewski blasted over from close range after a superb delivery from Matty Cash. Poland’s evening worsened after just 13 minutes when key midfielder Sebastian Szymański was forced off with a groin injury, replaced by Bartosz Kapustka.

The Netherlands created little during a sluggish opening half, their first attempt arriving on 24 minutes when Donyell Malen fired high from distance. Defensive lapses then proved costly moments before the interval. Robert Lewandowski slipped a perfect pass through to Jakub Kamiński, who found himself completely unmarked and calmly slotted past Bart Verbruggen to give Poland a 1-0 lead at half-time.

However, the Dutch responded swiftly after the restart. Memphis Depay struck his 55th international goal, pouncing on a rebound after Malen’s header was saved, to level the match at 1-1. Verbruggen kept the score level soon after, making an important close-range stop to deny Lewandowski.

A brief spell of Polish pressure was interrupted when flares were thrown onto the pitch, forcing a temporary pause in play. The momentum never fully returned, with the contest becoming increasingly scrappy and fought largely in midfield.

Poland nearly reclaimed the lead when Michał Skóraś forced another strong save from Verbruggen in the 82nd minute. The Netherlands then tested Grabara through Ryan Gravenberch late on, before Ronald Koeman introduced debutant Emmanuel Emegha to replace Depay in the closing stages.

With six minutes of stoppage time added, the Dutch managed possession professionally until the final whistle, securing a valuable point that leaves Poland needing nothing short of a miracle.

The draw puts the Netherlands three points clear of Poland with one match to play, and boasting a vastly superior goal difference: +19 compared to Poland’s +6.

The Dutch finish their qualifying campaign in Amsterdam against Lithuania on Monday, while Poland travel to Ta’ Qali to face Malta—fresh from their shock win over Finland.